STORY TOLD BY THE SULTAN OF CASGAKS PURVEYOR. 515
of it, and consent to your marriage. I will myself give orders for
having it solemnized; but I wish to have my daughter all to myself for
the ten days before the solemnity. In that time I will speak to the
caliph, and obtain his consent. Meanwhile, do you remain here; you
shall be taken care of.’

When the ten days were expired, Zobeide, having obtained the
caliph’s consent, ordered the contract of marriage to be drawn up and
brought to her; and the necessary preparations being made for the
solemnity, the musicians and the dancers, both male and female, were
called in, and there were great rejoicings in the palace for nine days.
The tenth day being appointed for the last ceremony of the marriage,
the favourite lady was conducted to a bath, and I to another. At night
I had all manner of dishes served up to me, and, among others, one
seasoned with garlic, such as you have now forced me to eat. This I
liked so well that I scarcely touched any of the other dishes. But to
my misfortune, when I rose from table, instead of washing my hands
well, I only wiped them—a piece of negligence of which I had never
before been guilty.

As it was then night, the whole apartment of the ladies was lighted
up so as to equal the brightness of day. Nothing was to be heard
through the palace but musical instruments, dances, and acclamations
of joy. My bride and I were introduced into a great hall, where we
were placed upon two thrones. The women who attended her made
her robe herself several times, according to the usual custom on
wedding days; and they showed her to me every time she changed her
habit.

All these ceremonies being over, we were conducted to the nuptial-
chamber. As soon as the company retired, I approached my wife ; but
on my approaching her she cried out very loudly, on which the ladies
of the apartment came running in to inquire the cause. ‘ Dear sister,’
said they to her, ‘what is the matter? Let us know, that we may
relieve you.’ ‘Take,’ said she, ‘ take that vile fellow out of my sight.’
‘Why, madam ?’ I asked ; ‘wherein have I deserved your displeasure ?’
«You are a villain,’ said she, in a furious passion, ‘ to eat garlic, and not
wash your hands. Do you think I would suffer such a polluted wretch
to poison me? Down with him, down with him on the ground,’ con-
tinued she, addressing herself to the ladies, ‘and bring me a bastinado.’
They immediately did as they were desired; and while some held my
hands and others my feet, my wife, who was presently furnished with
a bastinado, whipped me as long as she could stand. She then said to
the ladies, ‘Take him, send him to the judge, and let the hand be cut
off with which he fed upon the garlic dish.’

‘ Alas!’ cried I, ‘must I be beaten unmercifully, and have my hand
cut off, for partaking of a dish seasoned with garlic, and forgetting to
wash my hands? What proportion is there between the punishment
and the crime ?’

All the ladies who had seen me receive the bastinado took pity on

33—2